Source audio L.a. Lady Overdrive User Manual
L.A. Lady Overdrive User’s Guide
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing the L.A. Lady Overdrive. This powerful stereo effects pedal features a
collection of meticulously crafted Overdrive sounds ranging from subtly driven sustain to highly
saturated overdrive to screaming leads and beyond. With a simple control set, the L.A. Lady can work
in a wide variety of musical settings, and the powerful MIDI and Neuro control options under the
hood provide access to a vast array of additional tonal possibilities.
The L.A. Lady is housed in a durable, lightweight aluminum housing, packing rack mount power and
flexibility into a compact, easy-to-use stompbox.
The USB and Neuro ports transform the L.A. Lady from a simple overdrive pedal into a powerful
multi-effects unit. Using the free Neuro App (iOS / Android), a wide range of additional control
parameters and effect types (including a large collection of overdrive, fuzz, and distortion sounds)
are accessible. When used together with the Neuro Hub, the L.A. Lady is fully MIDI-controllable and
128 multi-pedal presets, or “scenes,” can be saved for instant recall on the stage or in the studio. The
L.A. Lady can also connect directly to a passive expression pedal for expressive control of any
parameter.
The Quick Start guide will help you with the basics. For more in-depth information about the L.A.
Lady Overdrive, move on to the following sections, starting with Connections.
SA244 L.A. Lady Overdrive User’s Guide 1
Enjoy!
- The Source Audio Team
Overview
Diverse Overdrive Sounds – Choose from traditional Overdrive tones such as Classic, Crunch, and
Smooth, or delve deeper into unique sounds cooked up in the Source Audio lab.
Compact Design – The durable, anodized aluminum housing has a slim profile, a small footprint, and
sturdy hardware that will withstand the rigors of the road.
Universal BypassTM – True bypass or buffered bypass? The choice is yours. The L.A. Lady features
high-quality signal relays for true bypass and transparent buffers for analog bypass.
Stacking – Stack two independent distortion circuits in series (or in parallel), all within the same box!
Dual 4-Band EQ + Low Cut – Two independent parametric EQs are included in the L.A. Lady, allowing
for fine tone control. An optional low cut filter tightens up the low end for bass players.
Flexible Routing – The L.A. Lady is equally at home in a mono rig or a stereo rig. A variety of routing
modes such as True Stereo, Cascade, Parallel, Dry Sidechain and External Loop allow the L.A. Lady to
harness the true power of stereo signal chains. Or just use it in Mono mode!
Preset Saving – Save your favorite sound by pressing and holding the footswitch. No need to
remember knob positions in the middle of a show.
Neuro Technology – The Neuro App opens up new possibilities for the L.A. Lady, including
completely new effect types, additional control parameters, and access to the Neuro Community,
including free presets from artists and other users. The Neuro Hub can store up to 128 presets for
the L.A. Lady, easily recalled with a MIDI controller. You can also download any effects for the
Kingmaker Fuzz and Aftershock Bass Distortion and use them on the L.A. Lady Overdrive.
Deep Control Set – Beyond the four knobs on the face of the L.A. Lady are many additional
parameters. The Neuro App provides access to the inner workings of the Overdrive effect for
advanced users who want to create a unique signature sound.
Noise Gate – The built-in adjustable noise gate helps remove unwanted noise.
Clean Path – The clean signal can be mixed in with the overdrive as desired, perfect for bass players
who want to hold down the rhythm section with a clean low end.
MIDI Control – All of the L.A. Lady’s parameters can be accessed and controlled using MIDI via the
Neuro Hub or USB. Class compliant USB-MIDI allows the L.A. Lady to work as a plug-and-play device
with recording software running on Mac and Windows, and the MIDI Learn feature makes control
mapping simple.
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Quick Start
Power
To power the unit, connect the included 9V DC power supply to the jack labeled DC 9V on the back
panel.
Warning: Using a non-Source Audio supply, especially an unregulated supply, could damage the unit.
Please be very cautious when using 3rd-party power supplies.
Guitar/Audio Connections
Using standard ¼” mono cables, connect your guitar, bass, or other instrument to the INPUT 1 jack
and your amp (or the next audio device in the signal chain) to the OUTPUT 1 jack.
When the power and audio connections have been made, the L.A. Lady is ready to play.
Brief Knob, Footswitch, and Button Descriptions
Drive Knob: Controls the amount of gain into the overdrive circuit, which sets the amount of
distortion and sustain.
Level Knob: Controls the overall output level.
Bass Knob: Controls the level of the bass frequencies in the drive circuit.
Treble Knob: Controls the level of the treble frequencies in the drive circuit.
Effect Switch: Selects between the three basic Overdrive effect types – Classic, Crunch, and Smooth.
Footswitch: Enables or bypasses the Overdrive effect. The ON/OFF LED will be lit green when the
Overdrive effect is engaged.
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Contents
Welcome .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Quick Start ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Connections ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Basic Overdrive Operation ....................................................................................................................... 8
Effect Types .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Controls .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Preset Storage and Recall ...................................................................................................................... 11
Universal Bypass TM ................................................................................................................................ 12
Stacking and Parallel Processing “Inside the Box” ................................................................................. 12
Stereo Routing ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Parametric EQ ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Low Cut Filter ......................................................................................................................................... 17
LoRetain ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Voice Control ......................................................................................................................................... 18
Noise Gate ............................................................................................................................................. 18
External Control ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Neuro App .............................................................................................................................................. 22
Specifications ......................................................................................................................................... 32
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................... 32
Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................................................................. 33
Rubber Feet ........................................................................................................................................... 35
Waste Disposal Notes ............................................................................................................................ 35
Warranty ................................................................................................................................................ 35
Version History ...................................................................................................................................... 37
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Connections
Input Side Connections
Input 1
This is the primary input for guitar, bass, or other instruments. It can also accept line-level inputs.
Connect it to your instrument or other audio source using a mono (TS) ¼” cable.
Input 2
Input 2 can act either as an audio input or as the data connection for the Neuro App, or both at the
same time.
Input 2 as an Audio Input
The tip contact on Input 2 acts as a secondary input for guitar, bass, or other instruments. It is only
active when the L.A. Lady is configured with a signal routing that uses stereo inputs. Connect it to
your instrument (or the previous effect in the signal chain) using a mono (TS) ¼” cable. By default,
the L.A. Lady will auto-detect the routing mode. Other routing options are available using the Neuro
App. For more information about stereo routing, refer to the Stereo Routing section.
Input 2 as a Neuro App Data Input
The ring contact on Input 2 acts as a data connection for the Neuro App. Connect it to your mobile
device using a stereo (TRS) ¼” cable. It can also accept daisy-chained Neuro data from another
Neuro-compatible pedal in the chain, provided that a TRS cable is used. The audio signal (if
applicable) will be on the tip contact of the plug, and the Neuro App data will be on the ring contact.
Input 2 only accepts data from the Neuro App. Data from the Neuro Hub comes from the Control
Input port.
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Output Side Connections
Output 1
This is the primary output. Connect it to your amplifier, recording interface, or the next device in
your effects signal chain using a mono (TS) ¼” cable.
Output 2
Output 2 can act either as an audio output or as the daisy-chain data connection for the Neuro App,
or both.
Output 2 as an Audio Output
The tip contact on Output 2 acts as the secondary audio output. It carries an audio signal when the
L.A. Lady is configured with a signal routing that uses stereo outputs. Connect it to your amplifier,
recording interface, or the next device in your effects signal chain using a mono (TS) ¼” cable.
Output 2 as a Neuro App Data Daisy-Chain Output
The ring contact on Output 2 acts as a data connection for the Neuro App, passing data from the L.A.
Lady to the next Source Audio effect in your signal chain. You can daisy-chain the Neuro App data
regardless of whether Output 2 is configured to output audio or not. Connect Output 2 to the next
device’s Neuro App Data input (usually Input 2) using a stereo (TRS) ¼” cable. The audio signal (if
applicable) will be on the tip contact of the plug, and the Neuro App data will be on the ring contact.
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Power and Control Connections
DC 9V (Power)
Connect to the included 9 Volt DC power supply. The power supply must be regulated at 9 Volts
(direct current), able to source at least 180 mA (milliamps) of current, and the plug should have a tipnegative, sleeve-positive polarity (the center tip is ground and the sleeve is power).
USB
Connect to your computer (Mac or Windows) to the L.A. Lady’s USB port (denoted by the icon)
using a standard mini USB cable. The L.A. Lady is a class compliant USB device, meaning that it should
be recognized by Mac and Windows computers automatically. For more information about the L.A.
Lady’s USB capabilities, refer to the USB section of the User’s Guide.
Control Input
The 3.5 mm Control Input port connects to external control devices such as the Dual Expression
Pedal, Reflex Universal Expression Pedal, Neuro Hub, and Hot Hand Motion Controller. For more
information, refer to the Expression Pedal Input, Hot Hand Input, and Neuro Hub sections of the
User’s Guide.
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Clean signal: With no distortion, the guitar
signal passes through the circuit unaffected. In
this example, a pure sine tone is used as a test
signal.
Tube/transistor saturation (soft clipping):
Tube and transistor amplifiers enter a
saturation state when overdriven and start to
distort the shape of the signal. This involves
some soft clipping at the peaks and valleys of
the signal, and may be symmetrical or
asymmetrical in shape.
Asymmetrical:
Symmetrical:
Diode clipping (hard clipping): Diodes can
clamp or limit the signal to a maximum level.
Symmetrical hard clipping: The signal clips
equally on the top and bottom.
Asymmetrical hard clipping: The signal clips at
different levels on the top and bottom.
Overshoot: Depending on the characteristics
of diodes and transistors in the circuit, the
signal may exceed its normal clipping point
before settling, which is known as overshoot.
Basic Overdrive Operation
Overdrive is a type of effect that works by distorting the input signal. Distortion can occur in a variety
of ways and results in a wide variety of outputs. This table shows a simple representation of what
some different types of distortion look like.
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Extreme overshoot: The overshoot
phenomenon can be taken to its extreme for
fuzz and metal sounds.
Octave: A rectifier can be used to double the
frequency of the signal, creating an octave fuzz
effect with a unique tonal character.
The various drive circuits in the L.A. Lady Overdrive utilize a combination of these different
approaches to create tones inspired by the classics, as well as new groundbreaking tones that bring
their own unique flavors.
Effect Types
The L.A. Lady includes three basic overdrive types, with more effects available in the Neuro mobile
app.
Classic
The Classic circuit offers an overdriven amp distortion sound with a smooth texture. Good for adding
a little extra grind for an “always on” tone.
Crunch
The Crunch circuit is our own version of an overdriven tube amp made more aggressive and out front.
Smooth
The Smooth circuit offers a heavily saturated tone reminiscent of Mesa-Boogie® amplifiers. This
aggressive approach to overdrive with its boosted highs and lows generates the thick, focused and
heavily sustaining tone that inspired countless artists from Carlos Santana to Metallica.
Additional Effect Types
Additional effect types can be loaded into the L.A. Lady using the Neuro App on your mobile device
(iOS / Android) or the built-in USB port (Mac / Windows).
The L.A. Lady Overdrive is compatible with Source Audio’s Fuzz and Distortion effects, so it is possible
to load Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz effects on the L.A. Lady at the same time.
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Drive Knob
Effect Switch
Bass Knob
Level Knob
Treble Knob
Engage/Bypass
LED
Engage/Bypass
Footswitch
Control LED
Control Input Button
Controls
Knobs
Drive Knob
The DRIVE KNOB adjusts the amount of gain applied to the signal. Dial down the drive for a cleaner,
more articulate tone or crank it up for over-the-top doses of overdrive.
Level Knob
Adjusts the output level of the effect. This is useful for setting the level of the overdrive effect
compared to the bypassed signal. Note that because the overdrive effect compresses the signal in
the clipping/saturation stage, the dynamic range of the distorted signal will be less than the dry
signal, and the LEVEL KNOB can be used to compensate for the loss of level that results from this
compression.
Bass Knob
The BASS KNOB adjusts a low shelf tone control. Turning the knob clockwise will boost the bass;
turning the knob counter-clockwise will cut the bass.
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Treble Knob
The TREBLE KNOB adjusts a high shelf tone control. Turning the knob clockwise will boost the treble;
turning the knob counter-clockwise will cut the treble.
Effect Switch
Selects between the three basic Overdrive circuit types – Classic, Crunch, and Smooth. These effects
are described in further detail in the Effect Types section.
LEDs
Engage / Bypass LED
The ENGAGE / BYPASS LED above the footswitch indicates if the Overdrive effect is active (lit green) or
bypassed (not lit).
When the user preset mode is enabled, the LED will turn red. See the Preset Storage and Recall
section for more information about user presets.
External Control LED
The small LED located between the Depth and Speed knobs is the EXTERNAL CONTROL LED. When lit, it
indicates that external control mode (expression, hot hand, or MIDI) is active. For more information,
see the External Control section.
Footswitch
Enables or bypasses the Overdrive effect.
Control Input Button
This small button is used when configuring external control. See the External Control section for
more details.
Preset Storage and Recall
The L.A. Lady features a user preset that can be easily saved and recalled using the footswitch. When
a preset is recalled, all of the parameters instantly jump to their saved value, regardless of the
position of the knobs. This allows you to save your favorite sound without having to worry about the
knob positions.
Saving Your First Preset
Bypass the L.A. Lady by clicking the ON/OFF FOOTSWITCH once. The ENGAGE/BYPASS LED should be
dark at this time.
Press and hold the ON/OFF FOOTSWITCH for 5 seconds and wait for the ENGAGE/BYPASS LED to turn
red. You are now in preset mode.
Set up the effect how you want it to sound, including the EFFECT SWITCH, LEVEL KNOB, DRIVE KNOB,
BASS KNOB, and TREBLE KNOB. Once you have made a change, the ENGAGE/BYPASS LED will begin to
blink.
To save your preset, hold the footswitch until the ENGAGE/BYPASS LED blinks rapidly 3 times.
Now you can engage and bypass the L.A. Lady using the ON/OFF FOOTSWITCH, and each time you
engage the effect, your saved preset will be recalled.
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Editing a Preset
Activate your preset (the ENGAGE/BYPASS LED will be solid red).
Change any parameter you wish (EFFECT SWITCH, LEVEL KNOB, DRIVE KNOB, BASS KNOB, and TREBLE
KNOB). Once you have made a change, the ENGAGE/BYPASS LED will begin to blink.
When you are ready to save, press and hold the ON/OFF FOOTSWITCH for a few seconds. The
ENGAGE/BYPASS LED will blink three times to show that the preset was saved.
Exiting Preset Mode
When Preset Mode is active, bypass the effect using the ON/OFF FOOTSWITCH. The ENGAGE/BYPASS
LED should be dark at this time.
Press and hold the ON/OFF FOOTSWITCH for 5 seconds and wait for the ENGAGE/BYPASS LED to turn
green. You have now exited Preset Mode.
Universal Bypass TM
Most effect pedals offer either true bypass or buffered bypass. The L.A. Lady contains two separate
circuits for bypass mode, allowing you to choose the method you prefer. The true bypass path uses
signal relays, which are electromechanical switches. This provides an ultra-low resistance path from
the input jacks to the output jacks, which is effectively the same as a wire. The buffered bypass path
uses extremely low noise buffers, which provide a very low output impedance and are effective for
driving long cables or long chains of effects following the L.A. Lady’s audio output.
Out of the box, the L.A. Lady operates in true bypass mode. In order to switch to buffered bypass
mode, edit the L.A. Lady’s global settings using the Neuro App.
We recommend you choose between the active analog bypass (a.k.a. buffered bypass) and relaybased true bypass based on what is needed in your signal chain. Ideally, the first pedal in a signal
chain is a buffered input followed by true bypass in the rest of the signal chain.
Both bypass methods have pros and cons associated with them. Buffered bypass provides consistent
input impedance so that if the source is susceptible to variations in input impedance (similar to a
guitar pickup), there won’t be a noticeable change in tone. True bypass has the benefit of providing a
dedicated hardwired bypass signal path. The L.A. Lady features small-signal relays for true bypass
switching that offer reduced pops and clicks compared to the traditional true bypass switching
method using a mechanical switch.
Stacking and Parallel Processing “Inside the Box”
The L.A. Lady works great as a simple mono Overdrive effect, but it has the power to do much more.
Within the L.A. Lady, two completely independent overdrive, fuzz, or distortion circuits can be set up
to run stacked (in series), in parallel (side-by-side and mixed), or even in true stereo. Usually, this
would require two separate distortion pedals, but the L.A. Lady can do it all on its own.
Stacking (Series / Cascaded)
Stacking overdrive, fuzz, and distortion pedals is a common method for creating unique textures that
would not be possible with a single pedal. This normally involves putting two pedals in series, one
after the other, to create multiple gain stages. Typically, this requires two separate distortion pedals,
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